Guide to Cortona

Immortalized by Frances Mayes’s novel and film adaptation Under the Tuscan Sun, Cortona has come to be a stand-in for the life-changing, picturesque hilltop Italian town. This small city in the Arezzo province offers an unparalleled vantage point for the lush scenery beyond the city’s walls. Although no longer Italy’s best kept secret, the charming city offers an abundance of boutique shops, churches, wine and local products.

Eat

Located just outside Cortona, the Michelin-starred Il Falconiere hotel’s restaurant offers painstakingly prepared dishes not to mention some of Tuscany’s most delicious bread. The property offers excellent cooking classes that last from an afternoon to an entire week.

Shop

There are a variety of small antique and ceramic shops lining Via Nazionale. For culinary souvenirs, Bottega della Pasta Fresca (Via Emilia All'Ospizio, 75; (39) 0522-552965) sells a vast selection of fresh pastas and sauces.

See & Do

At the center of the walled town stands the 13th-century town hall in Piazza Repubblica and the Duomo, whose plain façade belies its ornate interior. The Museo Diocesano (www.diocesiarezzo.it) houses Fra Angelico’s Annunciazione alongside works by the Berrettini brothers and Luca Signorelli. In August, the city hosts the annual Tuscan Sun Festival, featuring internationally acclaimed talent in film, music, literature, wine and cuisine.